MacArthur: Dickey looking for winning formula at home

Scott MacArthur8/10/2013 5:55:32 PM

Text Size

TORONTO - R.A. Dickey is still searching for the winning formula at Rogers Centre as he prepares to make his 13th home start of the season on Sunday.

"I think I possess the tools to do it here," said Dickey. "I just might have to utilize some things that I seldom have to utilize on the road. I don't think it would cause me out of who I am. It just means I have to make an adjustment and this game is all about adjustments."

As detailed below, Dickey's home and road splits are out of whack.

HOME: 5.97 ERA, .842 opponents' OPS, 18 home runs against.

ROAD: 3.08 ERA, .666 opponents' OPS, 7 home runs against.

"In particular, in this park, for whatever reason, my elevated knuckleball seems to not have the movement that it does in other places," said Dickey. "Just lowering my sights, trying to get my knuckleball kind of to dance lower than I ordinarily would. So that's just release point. That's a mechanical adjustment that shouldn't be very difficult to make but just being conscientious that I need to do that in this park."

Dickey faced the Athletics in his second-to-last start at the O.co Coliseum. In that game he threw six innings and allowed two runs, though neither was earned.

He didn't get a decision in a game the Blue Jays eventually won 5-2 in 10 innings.

REYES' PLAYING THROUGH PAIN

Jose Reyes has started each of the Blue Jays' 39 games since his return from a severely sprained left ankle.

"My ankle is still bothering me a little bit," said Reyes. "It's not quite there 100 per cent yet. That's something that maybe I can get 100 per cent in the offseason with some rest. But for right now, I'm able to play like that."

Reyes says his left ankle is noticeably weaker than his right ankle. It's still sore and feels, at times, stiff. He says he's most affected moving to his left for ground balls and when he's forced to leap.

While Reyes initially experienced pain rounding the bases, he says that's no longer an issue.

LAWRIE WORKING WITH EDDIE

Much has been made of Brett Lawrie's friendship with veteran and team leader Mark DeRosa but when it comes to hitting the 23-year-old picks the brain of Edwin Encarnacion.

"I've turned more my book towards, in that department, Eddie," said Lawrie. "I go with Edwin Encarnacion. We look at video together. We do our thing."

Lawrie could do a whole lot worse than Encarnacion.

Encarnacion, who's become one of the game's elite power hitters, is on pace for a second consecutive season with 40-plus home runs and a better than .900 OPS.

However, success didn't immediately find him.

After three productive seasons with the Reds, Encarnacion was acquired by the Blue Jays, for Scott Rolen, at the trade deadline in 2009.

The next season, he was designated for assignment and outrighted to the minor leagues. In the 2010-2011 offseason, Encarnacion was lost to the Athletics on waivers but when Oakland didn't tender him a contract, the Blue Jays brought him back.

It was in 2011, after he was moved from third base to designated hitter/first base, that Encarnacion's numbers spiked significantly.

PEREZ'S SEASON IS OVER

Reliever Juan Perez, 34, won't pitch again in 2013 and is questionable for next season after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow in Friday night's game against Oakland.

Perez requires Tommy John surgery.

In 19 appearances this season, all in relief, Perez posted a 3.69 ERA and averaged 9.64 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Blogger: Scott MacArthur covers the Blue Jays for TSN Radio 1050. In addition to reading his baseball blogs online, you can hear him on TSN Radio 1050 throughout the year.